Poem Four: Notes on Houdini

Poem Four: Notes on Houdini

with excerpts from Harry Houdini’s words

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The message never came.

Spirit bells. Jingling tambourine.

You promised you would

come back.

The days we spent

among miracle-mongers, 

fire eaters, sword swallowers,

stone eaters, all of us,

wonder workers.  We

held together

like magnets.  Through clouds

I watch you go beneath

water.  Bound and chained.

My darling, just one last kiss.

The key always on my tongue. 

The art of touching fire without getting burned. 

For ten years we lit candles.

We waited for the levitation.

Tell me, how long can heaven 

hold you?

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